Retiform Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor of the Ovary

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary is a kind of sex cord-stromal tumor, which occurs between teens and twenties with symptoms including abdominal pain and swelling. The incidence rate is infinitely rare comprising less than 0.5% of all ovarian tumor. The average age of “retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor” is 17 years as compared to 25 years for Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors as a group. We have experienced this rare case of retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in a 25-year-old foreign patient with the complaint of palpable mass on the right lower quadrant and an irregular menstrual period. The patient underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy and tumor stage was FIGO stage 1A. We report with a brief review of literature.

• Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor
• Retiform Pattern
• Sex Cord-Stromal Tumor
• Ovary

1. Introduction

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor is a very rare tumor originating from sex cord-stromal tumor. The incidence rate is infinitely rare comprising less than 0.5% of all ovarian tumor [1] . In 1905, Pick had found a microscopically odd ovary, which was comparable with male genital duct [2] . Meyer found that an odd ovary was extremely analogous to ductli efferents and defined it as Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor [3] . Among these Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, Kanter and Klawans have first sorted out and reported retiform pattern in 1940 [4] . Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor is highly related with normal testis embryologically. World Health Organization (WHO) uses the terminology of the Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor as synonym of Androblastoma [5] - [7] . Whatever terms, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor is considered as a clinically malignant tumor. And this tumor is usually occurred in young age female. The average age of ‘retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor’ is 17 years as compared to 25 years for Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors as a group [8] - [11] .

Young and Scully and WHO had classified the Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor into six patterns: 1) Well differentiated; 2) intermediate differentiation; 3) poorly differentiated; 4) retiform; 5) heterologous elements; and 6) mixed. A typical microscopic feature of the retiform pattern shows irregular anastomosing tubules made by cuboidal or columnar cells [7] [9] [12] .The objective of our paper is to present this rare case of retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in a 25-year-old woman and review of relevant literatures.

2. Case Report

A 25-year-old woman visited a local Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic because of amenorrhea for six months and right lower quadrant pain occasionally. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a tumor of the right ovary, measuring 5 cm in diameter. After then she was referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Dankook University Medical Center for further management.

There was no evidence of hirsutism, baldness, or deepening of the voice. On physical examination, a boggy feeling mass was palpated with tenderness on the right lower quadrant. Cervix showed normal appearance and no motion tenderness. Complete blood count, blood coagulation test, liver function test, renal function test, electrolyte, lipid test, urine test, chest X-ray, and electrocardiography were all within normal ranges. Papanicolaou smear test showed atrophy with inflammation. Serum levels of α-FP was 4.4 ng/mL, CA-125 was 23.9 U/mL, and SCC was 0.84 ng/mL.

Transvaginal ultrasonography showed an approximately 6.1 × 4.8 cm sized multilocular mass including the solid portion on the right ovary. There were no abnormal findings on the uterus. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) revealed the suspected diagnosis of cystadenofibroma or sex cord-stromal tumor originating from the right ovary (Figure 1).

Pelviscopic operation was performed. Diagnostic pelviscopy showed a large mass originating from the right ovary and no adhesion in the pelvic cavity. Right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Specimen and abdominal fluid for cytology were sent to the pathology. Pathologic classification was read according to the International histologic classification of tumors modified by Roth, et al. Grossly, the tumor was yellow tan solid mass with partly cystic area, measuring 6 × 5 × 3 cm. Microscopically, the tumor showed solid cords, slit-like tubules, and irregularly branching cystic spaces with some papillae lined by cuboidal cells with round to ovoid nuclei (Figure 2). Tumor cells showed no significant nuclear atypia, and mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemical staining results were positive for inhibin but negative for vimentin, Wilm’s tumor protein (WT-1) and p53. Cytology in abdominal fluid revealed no tumor cell. According to this histologic finding and immunohistochemical staining results, the tumor was found to be Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with retiform pattern.

The patient was discharged on the 4th post-operative day without any other complication. On the 9th post-operative day, she was re-admitted for staging work-up of ovarian cancer. Tumor markers and hormone tests were performed (LH 14.24 mIU/mL, FSH 4.18 mIU/mL, estradiol 52.5 pg/mL, testosterone 0.50 ng/mL, progesterone

Figure 1

Pelvis Magnetic Resonance Imaging image shows a large multi-cystic mass measuring approximately 5.8×5.5×5.5 cm in size, with an enhancing irregular thick wall and an amorphous enhancing solid portion with low signal intensity in the right pelvic cavity. (A) Coronal view and (B) axial view.

Figure 2

Microscopic finding of the Retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. The tumor showed irregular network of slit-like tubules and elongated spaces, typifying retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (A; H&E stain, ×40). The tubules are lined by Sertoli cells with round to ovoid nuclei that exhibit varying degrees of stratification (B; H&E stain, ×400)

0.45 ng/mL, 5α-dihydrotestosterone 0.11 ng/mL, prolactin 3.66 ng/mL, CA-125 28.2 U/mL, α-FP 2.2 ng/ mL, CA19-9 25.6 U/mL, SCC 0.75 ng/mL). All of them were within normal limit. MRI, positron emission tomography (PET)-CT, intravenous pyelography (IVP), cystoscopy, sigmoidofibroscopy, and colon studies showed no abnormal findings. Therefore we concluded that any other adjuvant management would not be necessary. She is followed up every 3 months, and shows no evidence of disease till now for 25 months after the surgical treatment. Follow-up MRI examination revealed no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis. And now she is happily pregnant state at 29 weeks of gestational age.

3. Discussion

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma, malignant mixed müllerian tumor and yolk sac tumor cannot easily be distinguished and diagnosed. Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor should be differentiated from these tumors with some key points. Clinical features and average onset age of papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma and malignant mixed müllerian tumor differ from those of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. These tumors tend to occur in the older age group. Between yolk sac tumor and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, yolk sac tumor is more pathologically primitive and includes abundant glycogen. Also yolk sac tumor shows positive sign for α-FP staining [11] .

In 2002, Young and Scully classified Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor according to six subtypes and incidence rates were: well differentiated (11%), intermediate differentiation (54%), poorly differentiated (13%), retiform pattern (15%), heterologous elements, and mixed type. Virilization was observed in only 33% of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor patients [9] [10] [12] .

Retiform patterned Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor is only found to be intermediate differentiation and poorly differentiated type [4] . In general, retiform pattern occurs in the younger age group and with less virilization than other types [10] . When a patient visits hospital for the first time, the chief complaint is usually unilateral abdominal pain due to a huge abdominal mass. Young and Scully reported on 24 retiform pattern cases of unilateral mass in 25 patients. With visual inspection, the retiform pattern consisted of a solid or cystic portion with a yellowish liquid portion and measured 8 cm to 22 cm, which was larger than other Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors [9] [13] . Some retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor showing papillary pattern may mimic serous adenocarcinoma. In this case, as described above, the tumor showed no prominent cytologic atypia and negative WT-1 and p53 staining results. These findings were not consistent with serous adenocarcinoma. Futhermore, positive inhibin staining result indicated this case was retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor rather than serous adenocarcinoma.

According to a report by Young and Scully, malignancy potential is 0% in the well differentiated, 11% in the intermediate differentiation, 59% in the poorly differentiated, and 19% in the heterologous elements type. Distance metastasis rate was 10% to 30% and recurrence rate was 66% after the first treatment trial. The prognosis was worse in cases where Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor recurred within one year from treatment [10] [11] [13] .

The standard treatment for Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor is surgical treatment. Especially in early stage of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (FIGO stage 1A), standard treatment is unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In the elderly group or patients with advanced stage, debulking surgery could be attempted, however, there are controversies regarding the benefits and prognosis [14] . PEB (cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin) and PAC (cisplatin, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy could be performed for intermediate differentiation or poorly differentiated type. But there is no evidence of preventing recurrence or increasing therapeutic efficacy [15] .

For young patients, fertility may be affected by debulking surgery and chemotherapy. Some surgeons including Telerman reported that only unilateral salpingo-oophorect- omy had shown a cure rate of 88.9% in FIGO stage 1A to Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor retiform pattern patients [13] .

Both treatment and fertility preservation are the key points in management of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, especially for young women. In prudent consideration of FIGO stage 1A and fertility preservation unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. The final pathologic diagnosis was Retiform Sertolig-Leydig cell tumor of intermediate differentiation type, which had less malignant potential than poorly differentiated type. And so post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy was not attempted. The patient has been in disease-free state for 25 months after the surgical treatment. And now she is happily pregnant state at 29 weeks of gestational age.

4. Conclusion

We presented the above rare case of retiform Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in a 25-year-old foreign patient. The patient underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy and tumor stage was FIGO stage 1A. Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor shows a variety of subtypes. It occurs relatively at a young age and has a malignant potential. However, there are no standard treatment guidelines for patients who want to preserve fertility. Because of the low incidence of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, only a few small scale and large-scale long term studies have been conducted in light of fertility preservation and recurrence. Future large-scale studies including meta-analysis are necessary.

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant of this article was reported.

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